 Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-year-2-of-the-earth-sciences-geology-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2022/paper-1/6/b/i/solution

The reflected P wave remains in the upper layer. Conservation of horizontal seismic ray parameter gives

sin i_{r} / V_{P 1} = sin 3 0^{\circ} / V_{P 1}

, so the reflected P angle is $3 0^{\circ}$ from vertical. This is specular reflection at the horizontal interface.

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